At a time historically when conversation is for the most part a lost art, I am amazed that the only people talking are those trapped next to each other on flights or in prison cells on lockdown, or on sinking ships once the last lifeboat is filled. Conversation is not the penalty for isolation, but often it feels such.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Where was M1?

Last night at De-Bug, a wonderful organization in the South Bay, while waiting for M1 to arrive to talk about his trip to GAZA in July, I met a wonderful Palestinian/Cuban poet/activist/feminist and undergraduate at San Jose State, Karimah Al-Helew. Karimah shared a poem with us, "Dying to Survive," which reflected her family's experience in occupied Gaza.

Karimah spoke of Viva Palestina founder, British Member of Parliament George Galloway. Galloway created the humanitarian aid convoy in 2008-2009 in response to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Karimah worked on the organizing effort here for the July convoy which M1, Cynthia McKinney and others participated in.

We opened the program with libations for the ancestors--Palestinian, Pan-African, and others. I then asked persons present to introduce themselves as the seating arrangement lent itself to such intimacy. Before the program began I met the Wallachs, Donna and her sister Darlene who both have spent significant time doing Anti-Zionist work and Palestinian liberation work. Darlene spoke of being captured and imprisoned, then deported minus her passport. She said she had never flown in such fine style before. These were the same detention centers Cynthia McKinney spoke of when she was here last month--prisons full of African refugees.

The two sisters make regular presentations called "Eyewitness Gaza," and are a part of the Free Gaza Movement and International Solidarity Movement. Darlene spoke of accompanying Palestinian fishermen and the Israeli soldiers--frogmen target these vessels, arrest the owners and then remove costly equipment--GPS systems which are needed to navigate the boats.

Along with 41 other human rights workers Donna and Darlene broke the Israeli blockade of Gaza on board the 2 Free Gaza movement boats, SS Liberty and SS Free Gaza, which arrived to Gaza in August 2008. For their speaking schedule visit: http://tiny.pl/3r2m

Darlene, Donna and Karimah spoke of the humiliation Palestinians suffer daily under occupation from the settlements built literally over their heads...the Palestinians in the valleys below... to the claustrophobic containment experienced by all in Gaza who can't visit cities just next door.

Karimah spoke passionately about post-traumatic-stress among the children and gave an example of her cousin who'd been caught on camera throwing a rock at a tank. The Israeli soldiers came to the child's house one evening and made everyone line up outside. His grandmother, who was bedridden, was allowed to stay inside under armed guard. The soldier asked "who threw rocks today?" When no one confessed, he pulled out a photograph which had the child in question, dressed in the same shirt--his face the center of the bulls eye. He could have been shot. His father immediately cuffed and chastised him. The soldier, no more than 18 years old, told the elder man, he "needed to have better control of his child."

When I asked Karimah if the father hugged the child once they were inside, she said, no, that the families were in such a state of siege, they didn't have the tools to even question the emotional toll such violence can have on a child, let along the entire family.

"This is why refugees in the states don't ask for such resources." This is one reason why Karimah is studying social work.

It was encouraging to meet the San Jose Peace and Freedom organizers, also present, that evening, and learn that they have sponsored a Palestinian Peace March each Monday evenings 5-6 p.m. at Cesar Chavez Park, Market and San Carlos, for the past nine years without except, unless it was the time when the sisters were in GAZA.

East Palo Alto, Oakland, San Leandro and San Francisco and of course San Jose, were in the room that evening. Calls to JR were that the party in Oakland were on their way at 7 p.m. We hoped they make it, but at 7:55 there was no sign of them. When we concluded at 8 p.m. one of the organizers of the tour's stop at De-Bug--he arrived after the program ended, told us the contingent was in San Jose somewhere and were looking to organize a program somewhere else.

I thought it was rude for JR and M1 to be in San Jose, but not stop by De-Bug just to thank the hosts for their hospitality. Perhaps they did after I left shortly after 8:00 p.m. I was feeling under the weather and today I could barely drag myself to work--think relapse.

My friend, Hamdiyah went to San Francisco yesterday and borrowed a projector and laptop computer for the program. She then lugged the heavy equipment from her office to BART, this was so M1 would be able to show his slides. Today she had to leave home early to drive to work to take the equipment back. I spent a few hours preparing for the interview over the course of the evening. I also skipped a memorial for a friend, Elsie Washington Sunday, so I wouldn't be late. I gave myself an hour to get to De-Bug,701 Lenzen Avenue, San Jose, CA(408) 971-4965.

The program was filmed, so perhaps De-Bug might air some of the program on its TV show.

DYING TO SURVIVE

-- Karimah Al-HelewThis is a dedicationA movement of thoughtful innovationIt is long past due, our compliant lack of vocalizationIs simply as explosive as silent incineration

Maybe you view this as my obsessionOr maybe you just prefer consistent digressionBut the subject never dies,and unlike the media of the many--uncorrupted Death tolls never lie

Leaflets of justiceBlown to piecesAshes collide in the shifting breezesBurning the children, making creasesFold after fold on a war torn heartBruised and broken, given an unfair start

Why should you care?You live in the U S of A.Thirteen million of your tax dollarsgoes to israel per day

Twisted spines like “S”’sThe physical embodiment of the snake that oppressesNo you don’t understandScoliosis can be treatedBut kids born in GazaAre accused first, then defeatedInnocents vibe on nutrients, way past depletedAnd mothers, collect blown body parts of babies, who’s lives had been cheated.

PTSD for the veterans of warA damaging disorder for the ones who swore, What about PTSD for the children who are bornveterans, victims from birthLiving and laying and breathing in occupations mirth

Born into an altered historyReliving a lying pastRather than looking to our presentWe see our future dying fast

Usually in life, we take on one roleAnd those who take on too manyAre the ones who like controlSo when you convince the worldThat you are a victimAnd at the same time manage an occupying systemWhat choice do you leave, the ones that are oppressedLiving in your shadow, what do you think manifests?

Ayat Al-Akhras, may she rest in peace17 and half years oldSuicide bomberNow a legend tenfoldPeople argue this is a crude mentalityAnd now I ask youWhy could this be?What drives a 17 year oldTo blow herself upIn the kindest of wordsHer life must have been pretty messed up

There are many forms of resistancemost methods are not acceptedbut imagine what breedswhen you've constantly been negated, neglected andwidely disrespected

I dedicate this pieceTo the ones that have diedTo the ones that have fallenTo the oppressors cage-like lies

I hear suicide bombersGet critiqued every dayBut were you to stand face to faceWhat is it that you’d say?The one thing, no one is daring to admitIs that something must be wrongFor such a method to exist

I don’t claim to understandThis vision that is plannedNor the minds of the manyWho have been named martyrs alreadyThat is incomprehensibleTo you or to IBecause we don’t live smothered by oppressionDying to survive